Songs About Walls

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Walls are an interesting little topic when it comes to music. They often represent barriers to relationships, mental barriers, or a blockage of some sort. A great metaphor with so many uses. And they have given us some wonderful music over the years. Walls can mean different things to different people, and I guess songwriters are not immune from that!

With that in mind, here are songs about Walls.



So, we have this list. The normal rules apply: the song title must include the word “wall” in the title, one version of each song, no live only releases, and I need to like the song. They are listed in chronological order, the date of first release, either as single or the home album. These are not just charting singles, but songs from my collection that fulfil the requirement and that I like.

And, before I get into this, nearly all of these songs are from the 1980s. That is really just the way it turned out; I think the whole Berlin Wall thing was on people’s mind at that time in the world, breaking that wall down, etc., and so it became a metaphor on people’s minds. It is not all 1980s pop. My musical tastes go beyond that. But there is an awful lot of 1980s here.

Sorry in advance.

Here are 20 songs about Walls!


’Another Brick In The Wall (part 2)’ by Pink Floyd (1979)

By complete chance, the first song I thought of leads off this list. The classic from Pink Floyd’s The Wall album, a song about the education system of post-war Britain, a song misunderstood by many today. “We don’t need no education… means the people did not need what they got, a nothing education system. The songwriting is amazing in just one verse.


’Walls’ by Icehouse (1980)

Okay, to start with – I know the band was called Flowers and the album Icehouse at this time, but they ret-conned that later, so I am going with the ret-conned band name. Does not detract from what is a great piece of Australian New Wave pop.


’When The Walls Came Tumbling Down’ by Def Leppard (1980)

Def Leppard was around for quite a while in the NWOBHM scene before they made it big around the world, and songs like this show they had “it” from very early on in the piece.


’Four Walls’ by Cold Chisel (1980)

One of the great songs from the classic East album , this is about a guy stuck in prison, and has become the Australian prison theme song.


’The Thin Wall’ by Ultravox (1981)

Ultravox are known for one, maybe two, songs, but their discography is deep, and this is a song of theirs I have always enjoyed. It is very much New Wave and probably very English (at the time), but I still enjoy it.


’Fly On The Wall’ by XTC (1982)

More new wave pop! But XTC were a little more than that, with some weird songs and lyrics, and the video only heightened the weirdness with the opening spiel. The actual song, though, is a lot of fun.


’The Walls Came Down’ by The Call (1983)

As a teenager, it was the chorus that got me into this, singing along to it at a Blue Light Disco, but the song itself is actually quite a good one, and well worth rediscovering.


’Balls To The Wall’ by Accept (1983)

German hard rock from the 1980s was definitely harder than the poodle rock equivalent in the US, and probably matched the NWOBHM scene from the UK. I have one Accept album, and this was one of the songs that encouraged me to buy it back in the day.


’Shadow On The Wall’ by Mike Oldfield (1983)

I quite like Mike Oldfield’s 1980s output, and songs like this, with some interesting lyrics and his underrated guitar playing, are a reason why. Not many regard this era fondly, but I do think his work from then deserves a re-appraisal.


’Walking On The Chinese Wall’ by Philip Bailey (1984)

When Bailey went solo after being with Earth, Wind And Fire, he started with Phil Collins, and as a fan, I followed him. Some great tracks followed, and this is definitely one of them.


’Girl On The Wall’ by Jane Clifton (1984)

This track about the price of fame on mental health was way ahead of its time! Clifton was an actress as well, and she was everywhere for a while, so this song comes from a place of knowledge. Another great song that has been allowed to slide out of memory.


’Walls Come Tumbling Down’ by The Style Council (1985)

I was a fan of The Jam, so when Paul Weller started this new band, I was there. But this had more jazz stylings, and it was different, and I got into it. Weller is still releasing some wonderful music to this day, for what it’s worth.


’Fly On The Wall’ by AC/DC (1985)

Title track from a little regarded album, but one which I have always loved. I even bought the video VHS album that joined a bunch of songs together with an animated fly! I enjoy this song and this album, and that’s all that I care about.


’When Your Walls Come Down’ by Kiss (1987)

Crazy Nights was an album that polarised Kiss fans. I wasn’t a huge fan at the time, but it did grow on me, and now it is one of my personal favourite Kiss albums. This album track is a fine one, and I don’t know why I wasn’t into them in 1987.


’Back To The Wall’ by Divinyls (1988)

Divinyls were one of the greatest Australian rock bands on the twentieth century, and it is songs like this that show their range and the different styles they used. I saw them live at the Tivoli (I believe they were supporting Joan Jett) and they were fantastic live.


’Radio Wall Of Sound’ by Slade (1991)

Slade’s last charting single, recorded as a bonus track for a greatest hits album, and, in my opinion, one of their very best songs. Not as glam rock as in their heyday, I still really enjoy this one.


’Break Down The Walls’ by Golden Circle (2008)

Yes, a wrestling theme song, for one of my favourites (Chris Jericho), and this is the fifth version of it released, but this is also my favourite version. A great modern hard rock track (nu-metal? Not sure) and one that is great to work out to.


’Wall Of Glass’ by Liam Gallagher (2017)

By the time Oasis broke up (of course, they are back now… at least, as I type this), I was over the Gallagher brothers. The band Beady Eye was okay… but this song was great. I enjoyed it enough to grab the album. Yes, they are talented. Separate the art from the artists, that’s what I say.


’Walls’ by Public Image Ltd. (2023)

I loved this album when it was released last year, and this is one of so many wonderful tracks from that collection. Just a reminder I should go back and listen to it again… so I did. Still great.


’Slide Down The Wall’ by Amy Shark (2024)

And a song from a very recent album, one I really liked from an artist whose music I am into, to close out this list. Her distinctive voice and sparse instrumentation is there, and it is a wonderful way to end this.


Yes, lots of 1980s… but also quite a few new ones. Nothing that old, though. Still, I think there is a wide collection of songs and styles across these 20 tracks, and I think many musical tastes have been catered to.

Hope you enjoyed this collection.

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